Geography

Geography 

Intent  

Our curriculum ensures that pupils:  

• Develop Geographical knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and physical environments. 

• Develop an understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. 
• Inspire children with a curiosity and fascination about the world, it’s people and our responsibility about our influence on the future of both.  

At St Mary’s, we encourage children to develop a curious and responsible attitude towards both our local and wider world around us. Our ‘We are Geographers’ curriculum promotes a love of learning about globally significant places in the world. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children acquire both key geographical knowledge and skills through fieldwork experiences and using a range of sources (such as maps and globes) and wider reasoning, enquiry and evaluation skills. Cross-curricular opportunities are also identified, mapped and planned to ensure contextual relevance and progression. Children are encouraged to explore and celebrate their wider world through researching the experiences of others. A love of geography is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied geography curriculum, leading to every child viewing themselves as a successful ‘geographer’ and harbouring an excitement to explore. 

Our Ark Mastery Geography curriculum provides 
a knowledge-rich, comprehensive curriculum that
has been strategically sequenced to ensure a broad and
effective learning experience for all pupils. Each unit of
work is underpinned by a clear rationale and conceptual
rigour. Where connections are meaningful, links between
the subjects have been embedded to ensure pupils
gain a rich understanding from both a historical and
geographical perspective. Careful consideration has been taken to create a balance
between historical and geographical knowledge and skills and enquiry has been embedded throughout the units, encouraging children to engage with major global challenges such as the environment, community cohesion, and ethical decision-making.

Implementation 

Teachers create purposeful and meaningful learning opportunities within their classrooms which promote a love for learning. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of geography involves the following: 

• Geography is taught in topic blocks throughout the year, so that children can achieve depth in learning. Key knowledge and skills of each blocked topic are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically. 
• Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for.  
• As children move through the school, they acquire a progressive development of geographical concepts, knowledge and skills. This allows them to compare a variety of different countries and environments.  
• Our carefully planned topics enable children to learn about the location of the world’s continents, countries, cities, seas and oceans. They are also provided with opportunities for using a range of sources, including maps, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs. Teachers demonstrate how to use such sources, to ensure children fully understand how to apply these to their own independent work. 

• Teachers find opportunities for outdoor fieldwork in the local and wider community, arranging visits to locations of specific interest which will enhance learning. This helps children explore the human and physical features of locations and investigate how these may have changed over time. 
• At the end of each Ark topic, classes produce a collaborative ‘Show What We Know’ display or presentation. Parents and carers are invited to view this (either by coming into school or through our Virtual Gallery). In the summer term, every class is assigned with a country to become ‘experts’ in. The children turn their classroom into an interactive, immersive experience of the country to present to their parents and peers.  

Impact 

The successful, cross-curricular approach we take at St Mary’s promotes a broad and balanced geography curriculum. Children have the opportunity to acquire key Geographical knowledge relating to the national curriculum strands; locational knowledge, place knowledge and human and physical geography. Key Geographical skills are supported through fun and engaging fieldwork activities. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences both in and out of the classroom. 

 Through our Geography modules, children develop an understanding of their place in the wider world and an appreciation of the diversity and changeability in our surrounding human and physical environment.  

Children also learn about careers related to geography from members of the local and wider community, helping prepare them for the next steps in their education. Our topics allow them to see all of the world as accessible and exciting – many families subsequently book holidays to new countries due to their children’s passion for studying them at school. This engagement and appreciation of links within our global community help our pupils to personally raise their aspirations as a result of their sound geographical knowledge and understanding.  

See below for Year 3 Geography Knowledge Organisers: 

See below for Year 4 Geography Knowledge Organisers: 

See below for Year 5 Geography Knowledge Organisers: 

See below for Year 6 Geography Knowledge Organisers: